[Tanada]

Grab your binoculars and head for the countryside this weekend.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — The heavens are hosting an event this weekend that occurs once in a million years or so.

A comet as hefty as a small mountain will pass mind-bogglingly close to Mars on Sunday, approaching within 87,000 miles at a speed of 126,000 mph.

NASA’s five robotic explorers at Mars – three orbiters and two rovers – are being repurposed to witness a comet named Siding Spring make its first known visit to the inner solar system. So are a European and an Indian spacecraft circling the red planet.

The orbiting craft will attempt to observe the incoming iceball, then hide behind Mars for protection from potentially dangerous dusty debris in the comet tail.

Shielded by the Martian atmosphere, the Opportunity and Curiosity rovers may well have the best seats in the house, although a dust storm on Mars could obscure the view.

Many more details at link,
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014/10 ... ion-years/

[sparky]

.
a near miss , the scientists were drooling at the though of an impact ,
they wanted to see inside Martian soil and check out the debris sooo much .
still it's not all wasted a new satellite has just arrived to observe Martian atmosphere , there should be enough of stuff from the comet to be detected and be worthwhile

[Tanada]

Tried to view it the last two nights but had heavy overcast both nights.

[sparky]

.
same here , I'm a bit of a stargazer but the cloud cover made me miss the comet AND the lunar eclipse
when are we going to get a decent drought

[Tanada]

NASA has put up a video about the pictures they took of Siding Spring passing Mars.
http://youtu.be/8Vcrq6PX8Pk